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Kitesurfing techniques: Down Loop Transitions If you’re reading this we’re assuming you already know how to do a standard transition – if you don’t you might want to have a look at our previous post explaining how to perfect your transitions first. How hard is a down loop transition? As intimidating, nerve racking or out of reach many think the down loop transition is, it is actually relatively easy and safe to learn as long as you are underpowered while learning. The key is to be underpowered while learning Important Note: ‘Underpowered’ in this case means ‘DON’T BE POWERED UP AT ANY TIME!¨ so when learning a down loop transition you must choose a smaller kite size than you usually would for the wind conditions. Don’t just use the depower strap while flying the kite you would normally use; you will still have too much power in the kite to learn this trick safely. How much smaller should my kite be? You must choose a kite size that will give you maximum 6 out of 10 power in the prevailing wind conditions while learning this stylish transition. Later you can progress to more power but while learning the move your safety is paramount. Weight transfer during a down loop transition Similar to normal transitions you will be aiming for butter smooth edging by loading your weight correctly from your back hip and leg to your front hip and leg, which will within a second become your new back hip and leg as you complete the turn. If you haven’t mastered this technique we recommend you perfect your normal transitions before moving on to down loop transitions. Initial kite movement for down loop transitions To make a down loop turn you need to position the kite at 1:15 or 10:45 and

Kitesurfing techniques: Down Loop Transitions If you’re reading this we’re assuming you already know how to do a standard transition – if you don’t you might want to have a look at our previous post explaining how to perfect your transitions first. How hard is a down loop transition? As intimidating, nerve racking or out

Getting air and making a seamlessly smooth vertical jump is about precision kite and bar control working in harmony with load and pop from your back leg on the heel side edge of the board in the exact moment before you leave the water.When you start the move you will want your kite to be sitting at either the 2 O'clock or 10 O'clock position. For this module of GrayKite's 101 Big Vertical Air, let’s say you have the kite at 2 O'clock in regards to your direction of travelThe movement that will give you real vertical loft is a high arc of the kite from 12:30 to 11:30, back to 12:30 and then to 12 O'clock carried out with precision bar control. Before you start this movement you will want to send your kite from 2 O'clock to 12:30 with reasonable speed. Once you have sent the kite smoothly from 2 to 12.30 you need to make the movement that gives you loft. To repeat, that's a very rapid and aggressive yet butter smooth 12:30 to 11:30 back to 12:30 arc, then send the kite directly to the 12 O'clock position at the apex of your jump.To get real lift, don’t forget to pull down with the bar just the millisecond before you leave the water. To keep control, always remember that %98.5 of the torque of the kite is in your harness not your arms.Likewise, remember to make the sequence a single movement. It's an all in one motion with the Kite from 2 to 12:30, then 12:30 to 11:30, back to 12:30 and ultimately fixing the kite for a millisecond at the 12 O'clock position at the Apex of your jump.The 12:30 to 11:30 arc is where you will get your upwards pull from, and therefore needs to

Getting air and making a seamlessly smooth vertical jump is about precision kite and bar control working in harmony with load and pop from your back leg on the heel side edge of the board in the exact moment before you leave the water.When you start the move you will want your kite to be

Kitesurfing Table MountainThis is the story of a world first endeavor, an expedition to kitesurf one of the 7 wonders of nature. This story was set to test our team against a series of grueling physical, mental and strategic demands; some we were prepared for and others we were not.I first realised I wanted to kitesurf on Table Mountain on my second climb up this iconic mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. I’d spent the past months kitesurfing in the ocean below the mountain. It was time to do it on top.The top of Table Mountain wasn't ever going to be the safest kite spot in the world but with 16 years of kitesurfing experience to call on, including 15 years travelling the globe as a professional instructor, I reckoned I could cope. But I decided to call in a little help anyway.I asked around and was told nobody had done it before, so I couldn’t get any advice on how to approach my adventure. I did manage to find some willing accomplices though, and we set about planning our adventure.Our group was a 4 man team of professional kitesurfing instructors and school owners, Chris, Christian, Hilmar and myself, whom together have over 55 years of experience kitesurfing. Between us we were probably as well equipped as anyone to make sure our adventure was as safe as possible.For over a month we played with the idea daily, trying to read the conditions as we looked up at Table Mountain from the world famous kitesurfing spots at Blouberg and Big Bay. We eventually decided to kite on Pink Lake, and for the climb we chose Skeleton Gorge, a steep ascent winding its way through the stone pine forests of the lower mountain gorges to the rocky heights high above Cape Town.One

Kitesurfing Table MountainThis is the story of a world first endeavor, an expedition to kitesurf one of the 7 wonders of nature. This story was set to test our team against a series of grueling physical, mental and strategic demands; some we were prepared for and others we were not.I first realised I wanted to

Kitesurfing Techniques | TransitionsTo make a smooth kitesurfing transition you need to understand a few key points about both kite control and weight distribution between your front and back leg/hip. Understanding these points is the key to changing direction and making smooth transitions on the board.Kite control: Starting position for smooth transitionDepending on the direction you are riding you need to position your kite at either 10 O´clock or 2 O´clock before you start your transition. Remember you will turn your kite in TWO stages. From 10 or 2 O’clock you will turn the kite aggressively to generate moderate power as you send it through the edge of the wind window to the 12 O´clock position. Too much power and you will lose control and go over the board superman/superwoman style, too little power and you will not have enough speed throughout the transition to complete the turn.Starting the turn: Kite movement and shifting your body weightFor this example we’ll assume you’re travelling upwind with the kite at 10 O´clock. Your weight will be in your back (right) hip/leg in this direction of travel. Turn the kite up hard from 10 O’clock and as it passes 11 while moving at 45 degrees across the wind window, push out with the hip of your back leg so the board travels in a down wind direction for a few more meters. Then, while you are travelling downwind these few metres, flatten out the board and stand more upright as you start to transfer your weight to your front hip and leg, which is about to become your new back leg and hip.When should you turn?Throughout the downwind part of your transition the kite will be traveling past 11 to 12 O´clock, and the power and speed that the kite generates at this point

Kitesurfing Techniques | TransitionsTo make a smooth kitesurfing transition you need to understand a few key points about both kite control and weight distribution between your front and back leg/hip. Understanding these points is the key to changing direction and making smooth transitions on the board.Kite control: Starting position for smooth transitionDepending on the direction

With Red Bull now moving into day 12, all is finally looking good for the first heat today Feb 3 rd.The wind conditions the weeks previous to the event were phenomenal but the 2 week lull in the wind has had all competitors on standby. As we wrote this the night before the final day, it was gearing up to even things out with over 35-45 knots expected. The Cape Doctor has returned. Yes you read this correctly the Cape Doctor is the common name for Cape Town's wind when she blows consecutively day and night reaching between 25 - 45+ knots, sometimes for weeks on end.The King of the Air event allocates a much longer period of time than any other Kitesurfing competition for one main reason. The riders need absolute perfect wind conditions when performing such massive jumps while they execute the most dangerous part of the trick, by looping the kite at the apex of the jump. Otherwise known as a kite loop.By looping the kite this accelerates the riders vertical jump which is around 20 + meters, to a very high horizontal velocity speed at the apex of the jump, being singularly the most dangerous trick in Kitesurfing. If the rider doesn't land the jump near perfect with the kite being sent back over the riders head to slow the horizontal speed before landing, then outcome is potentially disastrous.So far we have seen Kevin Langerlee go out with an injury in his preliminary training. And on the upside, Reuben Lentin is back and stronger than ever after his successful and determined battle with cancer. Right on!All riders are fully determined to go bigger and push harder than ever before and take this year's King of the Air title.The world will be captivated again as the best

With Red Bull now moving into day 12, all is finally looking good for the first heat today Feb 3 rd.The wind conditions the weeks previous to the event were phenomenal but the 2 week lull in the wind has had all competitors on standby. As we wrote this the night before the final day,

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Graykite is here to help you learn, enjoy and progress. Our kitesurf and kitesnow schools offer lessons for all ages and skill levels from beginner through improver to advanced level. And we’ve got you covered whatever the season.